Fire linked to shootings seen as arson

Tuesday

Nov 30, 2010 at 12:01 AM

By KAREN VOYLES The Gainesville Sun

The shooting of a former high school principal, the death of his wife and a fire at their home Saturday night are being investigated by local and state officials as a possible case of attempted murder, suicide and arson.

Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron said the violence "was a planned incident." He noted that the family dogs had been placed in a car outside the home, presumably so they would be safe.

The animals were not injured.

Ollen Clyde Sperring Jr., 61, a retired school district administrator and former principal at Suwannee High School, remained hospitalized Monday at Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville in critical but stable condition.

He suffered two gunshot wounds, Cameron said, including one in which a small-caliber bullet lodged near his spine.

A preliminary report from the medical examiner's office in Jacksonville indicated Sperring's wife, Beth Leslie Sperring, 59, suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

Cameron said the body of the former public health nurse was found burned inside the wood-frame home.

Also found at the home was a .38-caliber handgun.

Law enforcement investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office told Cameron that some type of accelerant had been used to ignite the fire and make certain it kept burning.

Samples were taken from the home for lab analysis to determine exactly what might have been used.

The fire destroyed the house. Part of the front wall of the house was all that was left standing Monday.

The sheriff's office received a 911 call just after 10 p.m. Saturday from Clyde Sperring.

Cameron said the recording of the call would not be released until later in the investigation, but he relayed to reporters on Monday morning some details.

"The call came in at 10:02 p.m. from Clyde," Cameron said. "He said Beth shot him and he could not get out of bed.'

The dispatcher who answered the call, Travis Meeks, said Clyde Sperring also reported smoke in the house.

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